Type-writing machine.



No. 864,602. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. G. 0. BLIOKENSDERPER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1905,

No. 864,602. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1007.

' G. C. BLIGKENSDERFER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11,1905.

2 SHBETSTSIIEET 2.

7 4/ 7 W7 L 9r GEORGE O. BLICKENSDERFER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT. I

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2'7, 1907.

Application filed August 11,1905. Serial 110.273,?02.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. Bmcxnnsnnnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, county of F airfield, and State of Connecticut, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, fully describedand represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in typewriting machines.

In typewriting machines, after the carriage has completed what may be termed its printing movement, it is thrown back to the initial position in order that the next line oi printing may be begun. When the carriage is forcibly thrown back, as it frequently is, there is danger that the carriage may rebound somewhat, so that the printing of the line will not begin at the proper point and the page will not have an even margin. While this rebound occurs in machines of what may be termed the ordinary type when rapidly operated, it is particularly apt to occur in power operated machines in which the carriage is returned by power. In ordi-, nary machines the rebound of the carriage is intended to be prevented by the engagement of the step by step carriage feeding mechanism, though, as has been heretol'ore pointed out, this does not always occur sufIiciently quickly when the carriage is rapidly thrown back by the operator. In power machines, however, the carriage is returned much more rapidly than it is returned by hand in the ordinary machines, so that the failure of the feeding mechanism to hold the carriage is particularly marked.

In the ordinary typewriting machines, mechanisms have been employed for looking or preventing the further operation of the machine after the carriage has reached a predetermined point. Such devices have not, however, been heretofore applied to power operated machines. I

It is one of the objects of this invention to produce a mechanism for use in typewriting machines which will prevent the rebound of the carriage as it completes its return movement after printing.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved mechanism for locking the mechanism of the machine against operation alter the carriage has reached a predetermined point in its printing movement, such mechanism being particularly adapted for use in power machines.

A further object of the invention is to improve the details of construction of the stopping mechanism for typewriting machines which is designed to control the amount of return movement which the carriage may have after the printing movement is completed.

A further object of the invention is to improve the details of construction of the mechanism for preventing the operation of typewriting machines after the carriage has reached a predetermined point in its printing movement.

A further object of the invention is to improve certain details of construction of typewriting machines.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain constructions, and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a form of typewriting machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is .a rear elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is'a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the side illustrated being the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view.

Referring to said drawings, the machine selected to illustrate the invention is a power machine of the well-known Blickensderfer type. It may be stated, however, that while the improvements which are hereinafter described, are particularly adapted for use in connectionwith a machine-of this type, the invention is capable of being embodied in mechanism which may be used in connection with other types of power machines, and as to some of its details, in connection with some machines which are not power operated.

In the particular machine illustrated, the bed of the machine is indicated at 1, this bed being supported on the usual feet 2. The top plate of the machine is marked 3, this being supported by the usual standards or framing 4. The carriage mechanism employed in machines embodying the invention may be of any desired or suitable construction. In the particular machine illustrated, the carriage embodies a pair of parallel bars 5, these bars being connected by tie plates 6. These bars are supported by groove wheels 7 mounted on studs 8 rising from the top plate 3, these wheels serving to support and guide the carriage in its movement. The tie plates 6 support standards 9 in which the usual impression roll or platen is journalerh Means are provided for giving the carriage a step by step advancing or printing movement. While these means may be of: any suitable or desired description, in the particular construction shown, the carriage has secured to it a rack bar 11 which is engaged by the Y toothed inwardly bent end 12 of a lever 13 pivoted at 14 in a rocking block 15 suitably pivoted in the frame oi. the machine. The lever 13 is provided with a roll 16 which engages a face cam 17 mounted on a. shaft 18 which is supported at one end in a bracket 19 extending from the frame and at the other end in the frame. Extending from the block 15 is a spring arm 20 which carries a roller 21 which runs on a peripheral cam 22 extending from the disk on which the face cam 17 is formed. In the operation of this feeding mechanism, the peripheral cam 22 first operates to rock the block 15 so as to throw the toothed end of the lever 13 into engagement with the teeth on the rack 11, after which the face cam comes into operation and rocks the lever 13 in the block 15, thus advancing the carriage. The feeding device herein described is fully set forth and specifically claimed in an application of Geo. O. Blickensderfer, filed Nov. 16, 1903, Serial No. 181,265.

Means are provided for returning the carriage after the printing movement, and in the best constructions, these means will be power operated. While the'construction of the returning means may be varied within wide limits, in the construction shown, there is provided a power shaft 23 which is continuously driven by a motor, the casing of which is indicated at 24. It may be here remarked that in the specific machine this power shaft is utilized not only for operating the carriage returning mechanism, that is, for giving the carriage its return movement after printing, but is also employed to give the carriage a continuous running movement in the same direction as the printing movement when such a movement is desired. this movement being in liru of the step by step movement. In the specific machine illustrated, the shaft 23 is provided with two friction drivers consisting of wheels 25 and 26. Cooperating with these wheels 25 and 26 are driven wheels 27 and 28. The wheels 27 and 28 are not normally in engagement with the drivers 25 and 26, but may be caused to engage therewith by means which will be hereinafter referred to. The

' wheel 27 has secured to it a gear 29 and the driver 28 has secured to it a gear 30, these gears being in engagement with a bevel gear 31 mounted on a vertical shaft 32, the upper end of which is provided with a pinion 33 which is in mesh with the teeth of the rack 11. It is obvious that by causing the wheel 27 to engage with the wheel 25, the carriage will be continuously driven in one direction, and by causing the wheel 28 to engage with the wheel 26, the carriage will be continuously driven in the opposite direction. In the particular construction shown, the wheels 26, 28 are the wheels which give the carriage the returning movement. In this construction, the shaft on which the wheels 27, 28 are mounted is supported in a swinging block or standard 34, this block swinging on a rod 35, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The block is swung by means of key-levers 36, 37, the lever 36 having an upwardly bent end 38 which is connected by turned after printing. The depression of the other lever will give the carriage a continuous advancing movement in the opposite direction. This specific construction for giving the carriage the continuous movement referred to is fully described and claimed in an application of Geo. O. Blickensderfer, Ser. No. 273,607, filed August 10, 1905.

In returning the carriage after printing, if it is returned rapidly, there is liability that it may rebound, so that the printing will not begin at the proper marginal distance from the edge ofthe page. While this may occur in machines in which the carriage is returned by hand, it is particularly apt to occur in power operated machines, especially in power operated machines inwhich, as in the particular machine illustrated, the carriage is a free carriage, that is, is disengaged from the step by step feeding devices so that it can be readily moved in either direction. Meansare provided to prevent this rebound when the carriage returns, and while these means may be varied widely in their construction and location, they may be conveniently arranged in connection with the devices which stop the return movement of the carriage. In the particular construction shown, the return movement of the carriage is limited by an arm 41 carrying a. buffer 42 which may be conveniently made of rubber, this arm and buffer being located so that the buffer strikes the side of the top plate 3when the carriageis at the end of its return movement. The arm 41 may be conveniently connected to the rack bar 11 before described. While the connection between the bar and the arm may be of any suitable character, as shown, the arm is formed in one piece with a flat bracket 43 which lies against the under side of the rack 11, this bracket having two upwardly projecting sides 44, 45 which embrace the sides of the rack. The bracket is supported on the rack by means of a plate 46 which is connected to the sides 44, 45 by screws 47, or in any other suitable manner. In order to permit this return or margin stop to be adjusted on the bar it is detachably locked thereto. In the particular construction shown, this is effected by recessing the side 45, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and locating therein a toothed locking block 48. This block (see Fig. 2) is supported to move across the teeth of the rack or into and out of the path of movement of the rack as the block moves into and out of locking position, it being held up into locking position by means of a spring 49, and being provided with a pin 50 by'which it can be pushed down against the force of the spring to disengage the teeth from the teeth of the rack. After disengaging the locking block from the rack, the stop can be slid along to any desired position, and the block then rengaged with the rack. By recessing or shouldcring out the side, it is possible to mount the block so that its engagement with the teeth of the rack is absolutely positive and very firm, and as the movement which the block has when it moves into and out of locking position is across the teeth of the rack, the strains set up as the buffer or margin stop strikes the frame do not tend to unlock or jar the block loose from the rack. The strains, further, do not act against the holding spring. as this spring merely positions the block and does not tend in any other way to maintain the lock.

The means for preventing the carriage from rebounding may, as has been indicated, be widely varied in' bers for preventing the carriage from rebounding consists of a headed or mushroom pin 51 mounted on the arm 41, the shoulder of this pin being marked 52. The coacting engaging member consists of a catch 53 pivoted at 54 on the top plate 3 of the machine, and held in engaging position by means f: a spring 55. The parts 51 and 53 being properly located, it will be seen that as the carriage completes its return movement, the catch will snap behind the shoulder 52 on the pin 51 and effectually prevent the rebound of the carriage.

When the engaging members for preventing the rebound of the carriage consists, of a positivelock, as in the construction described, means must be provided for releasing the lock when the carriage is to be fed ahead. While these releasing means may be of any desired character, in the construction shown, the catch 53 is provided with a projection 56 which, when the catch is in operative position, lies close to the lever 13 before described. When this feed lever is operated to throw its toothed end into engagement with the rack, it will be seen that the catch will be forced back, thus disengaging its hooked end from the shoulder 52 of the pin and leaving the carriage free to move.

In some instances, as, for instance, in paragraphing, it is desirable not to allow the carriage to have its full return, so as to leave a Wider margin on the line which begins a paragraph. Of course, this result may be effected by allowing the carriage to have its full return and then feed it ahead, but the present invention includes means for providing for a partial return of a given movement of the carriage when desired. While this means may be varied, in the specific construction shown, there is provided a supplemental stop which is arranged to cooperate with the margin stop before described. This supplemental stop consists of a swinging bar 57 pivoted on the pivot 54 of the catch 53. This bar has a downwardly bent end 58 which when the stop is in operative position lies in the path of the margin stop buffer 42 before referred to. The arm or bar 57 is moved in and out by a slide 59 working on the top of the plate 3 and guided by a screw, or in any other suitable manner. Of course, when this supplemental stop 57 is in operative position, the means for preventing the rebound of the carriage will be inoperative, but as this supplemental stop is infrequently used, this is not material.

Means are provided for preventing the operation of the machine after the carriage has reached a predetermined point in the printing movement, devices of the general character referred to being known in the art and being ordinarily termed line locks. In the particular construction. shown, the means referred to includes a sliding bar 60 toothed on itsunder side, as indicated at 61, in Fig. 2, this bar being supported in a bearing 63 carried on an arm 64 pivoted at 65 to one of the standards 9. This standard has an arm 66 extending outward therefrom, and the edge of this arm cooperates with teeth 61 on the underside of the bar 60, thereby locking this bar against backward movement. When it is desired tomove the bar 60 backward, this can be done by raising the arm 64 slightly to free the teeth from the edge of the arm 66, the amount of movement which can be given the arm 64 being limited by a screw 67 which passes through a slot in the arm 64, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and into the arm 66. Mounted in the forward end of this bar 60 is a swinging pawl 68. The member which cooperates with the bar 60 and pawl may be variously constructed, but as shown this member consists of a lever 69 pivoted at 70 to the top plate 3, this lever having a swinging movement for reasons hereinafter stated. This lever 69 has an upturned end 71 which lies in the path of the pawl 68 and the swinging movement is limited by a shouldered block 71 located on the top plate of the machine..

The particular machine which has been selected to illustrate this invention is, as has been before pointed out, a power machine, the type mechanism and feeding mechanism being both operated from the power. In this machine, the shaft 23 is the motor shaft of the continuously running motor and is provided with a driving pinion 72 which drives a loose gear 73 on the shaft 18 before referred to. A single revolution clutch mech' anism such as is shown in Patent No. 717,732, dated January 6, 1903, indicated in dotted lines at 74 in Fig. 2, is provided by which the gear is clutched to and unclutched from the shaft, the clutch being operated from a swinging arm 75. This swinging arm 75 is connected by a two-part link 76, 77 to an arm 78 which is fast on a rocking bar 79 extending across the side of the machine from side to side. This bar is operated by key levers, one of which is indicated at 80, through the medium of a series of sliding connectors, one for each keylever, and one of which is indicated at 81. These connectors each have a shoulder 82, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, which takes behind a shoulder 83 on the bar 79. The depression of a key-lever, 80, therefore, will, through its sliding connector 81, rock the bar 79, the arm 78, and through the link 7 (i-77, swing the lever 75, permitting the clutch to operate. For a full illustration and description of this construction reference is made to the patent to Geo. C. -Blickensderfer, No. 802,734, dated Oct. 24, 1905.

The type mechanism, while it may be of any suitable character, consists, in the particular construction shown, of a type wheel 84 of well-known construction. This type wheel is, when the clutch is operated by a type lever, thrown against the impression roll and at the same time is given the proper movement to bring into position the letter to be printed. The clutch mechanism and the actuating mechanism between the typewheel and the power mechanism may be of any suitable construction, but a construction suitable for use in this machine is fully illustrated and described in the patent to Geo. C. Blickensderfer, No. 717,732, dated Jan. 6 1903, to which reference is made for a full description and illustration;

The connector mechanism which has been briefly described is fully illustrated and described in an application by Geo. C. Blickensderfer, filed Nov 16, 1903, Ser. No. 181265.

In the particular mechanism shown, the operating mechanism of the machine is locked against movement after the carriage has reached a predetermined position by preventing theoperation of the clutch. While this may be effected in any desired manner, in the particular construction shown, the bar 79 is provided withan upstanding arm 85 which projects through an opening in the top plate 3. The swinging lever 69 before dethe upstanding arm 85.

from sidewise movement by means of a stop 88 and when, therefore, the projection 87 of this bar lies behind the arm 85, the bar 79 cannot be rocked by the.

key-levers, and consequently, no operation of the mechanism can take place. The lever 69 is normally held by a spring 89 in such a position that the projection 87 is clear of the arm 85, the amount of movement produced by this" spring being limited by the engage.

ment of a stop 90 on the bar 86 with the stop 88 before referred to.

- Should it be desired to allow the carriage to move a few spaces after it has been stopped by the line lock mechanism, for the purpose, forinstance, of completing a non-divisible word, or for any other reason, this may be done by lifting the arm 64 slightly. This permits the spring 89-to swing the lever 69, thus unlocking the mechanism. The pawl 68 will, in this case, advance beyond the end of the lever 69, but being pivoted, it will ride over the upturned end 71 of this lever as the carriage retilrns.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which this invention is carried into effect, and it is to be further understood that some features of the invention may be used independently of other features. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific construction hereinbefore set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage driving rack, of a return stop slidingly mounted thereon, a toothed locking block for securing the stop to the rack, said block being mounted to move across the rack teeth, a spring for retaining the block in operative position, and means. as a pin, for moving the block against the tension of the spring.

2. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of motor driven means for giving the carriage a step by step advancing movement, motor, driven means for returning the carriage, a carriage return stop,-an engaging member mounted on the stop, a pivoted catch mounted .on the machine frame and arranged to engage the carriage as it completes its return movement, whereby rebound of the carriage is prevented, and connections whereby the feeding means releases the catch.

actuating mechanism when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

4. In a typewriter, the combination with-a carriage and type mechanism, of actuating mechanism for the type mechanism, a power shaft for operating the actuating mechanism, and means including a stopping mechanism adjustably mounted on the carriage for preventing the power shaft from operating the actuating mechanism when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

:i. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and type mechanism, of actuating mechanism for the type mechanism, a power shaft for operating the actuating mechanism, a stopping member adjustably mounted on the carriage, a cooperating stopping member, and means actuated from the cooperating stopping member for preventing the power shaft from operating the actuating mechanism when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

6. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and type mechanism, of an actuating mechanism for the type mechanism, a power shaft, means including a clutch whereby the power shaft operates said mechanism, and means for preventing the operation of the clutch when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

7. In a typewriter, the combination with the carriage, of a stopping member adjustably mounted thereon, type mechanism, actuating mechanism therefor, a power shaft for operating the actuating mechanism. a coiiperating stopping member pivoted on the frame of the machine, and means actuated-by the movement of said pivoted member for preventing the power shaft from operating the actuating mechanism after the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

8. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a motor driven shaft, step-by-step feeding means operated from the shaft, and means for preventing the operation of said step by step feeding means after the carriage has reached a predetermined point in its movement.

9. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a motor driven shaft, step-by-step feeding means for the carriage operated from said shaft, a stepping member mounted on the carriage, a cooperating stopping member, and means operated from said cooperating stopping member for preventing the operation of the step by step feeding means.

10. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a motor driven shaft, step-by-step feeding means for the carriage operated from said shaft, a stopping member adjustably mounted on the carriage, a cooperating stopping member, and means operated from said cooperating stopping member for preventing the operation of the step by step feeding means.

11. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a motor drivenshaft, a step by step feeding device, means including a clutch for connecting the feeding device to the power shaft, and means for preventing the operation of the clutch after the carriage has reached a predetermined point .in its movement.

12. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a power shaft, carriage advancing means, means including a clutch whereby the carriage advancing means is operated from the shaft, and means for preventing the operation of the clutch when the carriage has reached a predetermined point in its movement.

13. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of

carriage advancing mechanism, a power shaft, connections between the power shaft and the advancing mechanism, means whereby said connections are rendered operative to enable the power shaft to operate the advancing mechanism, and means including a stopping member adjustably mounted on the carriage for preventing said connections from becoming operative when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

14. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and a type mechanism, of actuating mechanism for the type mechanism, a support mounted on the carriage and movable with respect thereto, a stop slidingly mounted in the support, a cooperating stopping member, and means whereby the engagement of said members prevents the operation of the actuating mechanism when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

15. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and type mechanism, of actuating mechanism for the type mechanism, a support mounted on the carriage and movable with respect thereto, a stop slidingly mounted in the support, a cooperating stopping member pivoted on the frame of the machine, and means whereby the engagement of said members prevents the operation of the actuating mechanism when the carriage has reached a predetermined point.

16. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of a margin stop for determining the amount of return movement of the carriage, a supplemental margin stop for decreasing the amount of return of the carriage and thus increasing the margin, and means independent of the stop and connected thereto for moving the supplemental stop into and out of position when desired.

17. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of l with said margin stop to increase the margin on the paper, a margin stop adjustably connected thereto for determinand a siide for moving, the pivoted plate into and out of ing the amount of return movement of the carriage, a supposition. plemental margin stop for decreasing the amount of re- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, .in 5 turn of the carriage and thus increasing the margin, and the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

means independent of the stop and connected thereto for 1 moving the supplemental stop into and out of position GEORGE BLICIENSDERB when desired. Witnesses 18. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage, of AUGUSTA ,WHITE, 10 a margin stop carried thereby, a pivoted plate cooperating J. A. GRAVES. 

